St. Demetrius Development Corp.

We gathered with our volunteers to celebrate and recognize their incredible dedication, generosity, and commitment.

Whether they are supporting recreation activities for residents at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, helping with our community program, assisting at fundraising events, or operating our Gift Shop, their presence bring a warm sense of community, kindness, compassion and friendship. We are deepy grateful!

We're especially fortunate to have volunteerscwho have been with us for many years, as many as even 30 - since the very beginning of the Care Centre, and we're happy to recognize them for their years of service.

This year, we are proud to recognize Derryll Wizniak as our Volunteer of the Year. Derryll generously supports both our Development Office and Community Programs and exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism. He is also a recipient of the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, one of Canada's highest honours recognizing individuals whose volunteer service has made a significant and lasting impact.

To all of our volunteers, thank you. You inspire us and uplift us through your kindness and commitment. We feel truly honoured to have an opportunity to celebrate you, and we're immensely proud to have you as part of our organization.

This wonderful celebration was organized by the Recreation Deparment of the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, and the delicious food was prepared in our kitchen from scratch, and served by our staff. All done with hearts filled eith gratitude.

Family members of the Care Centre, friends and volunteers, let's get together for a gardening day.

Our Summer Bazaar is around the corner! Saturday, June 20, 9:00am - 2:00pm. Have items ready for a new home? We're accepting in-kind donations - vintage treasurs, collectibles, artwork, Ukrainian embroideries and ceramics, and unique discoveries of all kinds.

Curious what items, new or vintage, we already have?

Catch a glimpse.

Look what blossomed at St. Demetrius!

Who says you ever stop creating? Last week, seniors from our apartments and the wider community picked up their brushes and proved that the spirit of artistry has no age limit — bringing the centuries-old Ukrainian folk art of Petrykivka to life in glorious acrylic.

Under the warm and patient guidance of instructor Victoriia Andreieva, our artists transformed blank canvases into bursts of kalyna berries, golden sunbursts, rowan branches, and blooming flowers — each one as full of personality as the hands that painted it.

There was laughter around the table, brushes in motion, plates and canvases drying in the sun, and that quiet pride that comes from making something beautiful with your own hands. It was a beautiful reminder that creativity, community, and joy are ageless.

We are pleased to share that the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre has been awarded a Three-Year Accreditation — the highest level of accreditation awarded by CARF International, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. CARF is an independent international body that evaluates health and human services organizations against rigorous standards of quality, care, and service excellence.

During the survey, our Home was assessed against more than 1,500 internationally recognized standards — among the most comprehensive and respected benchmarks in the health and human services sector.

We are especially proud to share that this marks the fifth consecutive time that our Care Centre has received CARF's highest accreditation distinction.

Reflecting on the conversations with the surveyors, our Chief Executive Officer, Irena Dounets, shared:

"What stayed with me most were not the numbers, but what the surveyors said about our Care Centre during the closing meeting. They described us as 'a microcosm of the larger neighbourhood,' said that 'the focus is truly on the residents,' and called us 'truly the upper tier.' Most meaningful of all, unprompted, they described us as 'a Home with a Heart.'

To hear our own words reflected back to us by those who walked through our doors with fresh eyes and open minds truly meant a lot to all of us. It affirmed something we strongly believe — that the best care is grounded in both competence and compassion, and shaped by dignity, belonging, and genuine human connection."

This recognition reflects the dedication and compassion of our staff, the support of our donors and volunteers, the guidance and leadership of our Board members, the strength of our community partnerships, the trust of our families, and the voices of our residents, who remain at the centre of everything we do.

Дякуємо. Thank you to our residents, families, staff, volunteers, donors, Board members and community partners, for making our Care Centre truly a Home with a Heart.

Happy Vyshyvanka Day from St. Demetrius! 🇺🇦

Today, our St. Demetrius family came together as one community to celebrate the beauty, spirit, and meaning of Ukrainian heritage.

From the joyful visit and parade by the students of St. Demetrius School, to our beautiful Vyshyvanka Day Fashion Show presented by ETNIKA UA by Alla, the day was filled with pride, smiles, and a true sense of togetherness.

Together, our residents, students, staff, Board members, volunteers, and community friends honoured a tradition that reminds us who we are — a community united by culture, kindness, and heart.

At St. Demetrius, we are proud to keep Ukrainian traditions alive and to celebrate them together in our Homes with a Heart.

З Днем вишиванки від Святого Димитрія! 🇺🇦

Сьогодні родина Святого Димитрія об’єдналася як одна громада, щоб відсвяткувати красу, дух і значення української спадщини.

Від радісного візиту та параду учнів школи Святого Димитрія до прекрасного показу вишиванок, представленого ETNIKA UA by Alla, цей день був наповнений гордістю, усмішками та щирим відчуттям єдності.

Разом наші мешканці, учні, працівники, члени Ради директорів, волонтери та друзі громади вшанували традицію, яка нагадує нам, хто ми є — громада, об’єднана культурою, добротою та серцем.

У Святого Димитрія ми пишаємося тим, що зберігаємо українські традиції та святкуємо їх разом у наших Домівках з серцем.

#ДеньВишиванки #ВишиванкаЄднає

Who are these happy visitors exploring the wonders of Ripley’s Aquarium?

Our residents had a truly wonderful day filled with discovery, laughter, beautiful sights, and special moments shared together. From colourful underwater worlds to the excitement and joy of being out in the community, outings like these bring stimulation, connection, conversation, and meaningful experiences that brighten everyday life.

Thank you to everyone who supports our recreational programs. It is the generosity of our supporters that allows us to organize more bus outings for our residents.